Illinois notebook: Slight chance Randle could see playing time

The updated diagnosis on Illinois senior Brian Randle's right shoulder is improved, and it might not be a career-ending injury after all.

While he's still listed as out when Illinois (11-17 overall, 3-12 in the Big Ten Conference) plays at Iowa on Saturday (5 p.m., Big Ten Network), Randle could see brief action by the regular-season finale March 8 against Minnesota with the hope of getting more playing time in the Big Ten tournament, coach Bruce Weber said Thursday.

Randle separated the shoulder in a loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 20. While Randle's return this season is still a long shot, Weber opened the door slightly to say the fifth-year forward from Peoria Notre Dame might possibly be back on the court in a limited role.

"It's a better diagnosis, more positive than they originally thought,'' Weber said. "They don't feel like the AC joint was damaged to where he needs surgery. It's just a matter of getting that movement in his arm, full range of motion in the shoulder.

"We kind of said, 'Hey, wouldn't you like to at least suit up for the Minnesota game on senior day and get a minute or two?' We won't put him in there unless he's healthy. That's what we've given him, sort of a longshot goal. We have to see how it progresses and (he) might have a chance to play in the Big Ten tournament.''

Freshman forward Bill Cole, who hoped to return to practice by March 1 following a leg injury, was only be cleared for light shooting drills. Cole suffered stress syndrome. While the injury was caught before a stress fracture formed, there was stress on his bone and tissue surrounding the bone.

Before the Illini entered last week's two games, Weber tried to motivate the Illini by setting a goal of winning their last five regular-season games. Illinois lost both games, failing to show much spirit in defeats to Wisconsin and Michigan.

So Weber is concentrating more about improving his young players than trying to motivate the Illini.

"We just can't walk around and feel sorry for ourselves,'' Weber said. "You have an opportunity, and let's make the most of it for ourselves. Last week, we said, 'Let's win the last five; then we go out and lose the next two.

"Let's just get better right now and play with enthusiasm and life, see if we can get by Saturday, then two home games to end and maybe make something of it. With this group, every time I give them a goal or something, it doesn't seem to motivate them. Now I've stayed away from putting expectations on them.''

By the numbers

Illinois is one loss away from tying the single-season school record. Illinois set a school record with 14 conference losses in 1974-75. … Illinois can climb no higher than the No. 7 seed in the Big Ten tournament, though the Illini are more likely to fall into the game pitting the No. 8-9 seeds. The Illini have never lost a preliminary round conference tournament game. The Illini are 2-0 in Thursday games at the conference tournament.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com.